New GEC #13 Congress series (Clerk, Speaker Jack and Whip)

[Old Engineer]

These were "Sambar Stag". There are small inferences as to why they were not labeled Natural Stag even though they were not burnt.

I knew that they were called Sambar Stag and not Natural Stag but I did not know why . Some areas of mine appear to be Burnt Stag but not really . I chose the ones that I did because of the brown color looking different than Burnt Stag and assumed , probably in error , that they were some Stag Drops that had aged more than normal . I also assumed that they definitely were not Natural Stag based on the cost . I consider myself fortunate to have gotten 1 that had some pretty nice texture on both the Mark and Pile side and running full length to the bolsters on 3 of the 4 places . If you would have the time to tell me why they were called Sambar Stag and not Natural Stag , I would really appreciate it Mike since I did get the top one from you my friend .

Harry

 

[knifeswapper]

Natural Stag are serialized. Natural stag are actually selected from the full lot before torching. That is probably the main reasons.

 

[joeradza]

These are the two I hoped for. One from Mike at CK and the Office Knife from a helpful forumite.

 

[007hunter]

Natural Stag are serialized. Natural stag are actually selected from the full lot before torching. That is probably the main reasons.

Thank you sir, I believe that is correct. Also, from what I understand "sambar stag" is what GEC calls stag (natural) that is not hand matched, not serialized, and on a knife that is too small to run through torching process. "Natural stag" is serialized hand selected for matching width/visual and is not torched. "Burnt stag" is simply non matched sambar stag that is put through torching process....clear as mud???

 

[007hunter]

These are the two I hoped for. One from Mike at CK and the Office Knife from a helpful forumite.

You've got couple beauties there!! Great picture too.

 

[Will Power]

Yes! The Muslin Clerk has arrived at last after its weird tour around Europe.

No pix, it's too late in the day and other people have already taken excellent shots of it, so a little review instead:

Extremely pleased with this and a little surprised, but pleasantly. Fit & finish is first-rate, and I think this is especially impressive given it's a single-spring with a tight fit for nesting the blades. Consequently, I can find no blade rub at all, no blade-play, no gaps, no exposed blade tips. The blades open out straight with the spring showing no droop. What surprised me is the pull and W&T. A heavy spring on mine, Wharncliffe 6.5 and Pen a tough 8, I don't find this a bad thing at all was even fearing tame snap. The Wharncliffe has nice angling (kind of one sided swedge I suppose) to allow the Pen blade in its place without rubbing or sticking. Gives the blade a very sleek look from that side too. Proportions are spot on for the frame too, long streamlined Wharncliffe that fills the frame, I have a dislike of knives with short Master blade and then large handles, don't care who made them.

The Micarta itself is extremely nice, great colour that promises good ageing potential and is left matte, as are the bolsters. I'm undecided about this aspect, might want to polish them but as I have no power buffer it will have to be with a strop. What do you need to do to polish micarta, does anybody know? Do you have to seal it with something?

Another very satisfying effort from GEC, my third knife of theirs this year and all three patterns have been gratifyingly good.

Thanks, Will

 

[joeradza]

Thanks 007, I got lucky and snagged the two I wanted from this run.

 

[007hunter]

Thanks 007, I got lucky and snagged the two I wanted from this run.

Always feels good to be able to get the ones you want. Looking through my 13's, one of the sleepers of this run was definitely the Ebony Northfield Whip. Why? Because it has the satin blade which I always my favorite on the Northfield trim! Seems like that combo only comes on SFO's here lately...wish they did that more often.

 

[Old Engineer]

Congrats on finally receiving your # 13 WILL .

You win the prize for getting the #13 with the most miles on it my friend .

Harry

 

[Old Engineer]

These are the two I hoped for. One from Mike at CK and the Office Knife from a helpful forumite.

Glad you got the 2 you really wanted Alan . They look pretty nice to me .

Harry

 

[joeradza]

Thanks Harry, looks like the stags turned out pretty good. Will's 13 has more mileage than an old Jeep.

 

[Will Power]

Ha Ha! Thanks gents, it certainly went on the Grand Tour! But I'm happy to say the wait was well worth it

 

[AShearer]

These are the two I hoped for. One from Mike at CK and the Office Knife from a helpful forumite.

Both looking good Alan. I'm not completely sure I am following the stag discussion. But I find it interesting how much variation there is in these 13's stags.

The one you're showing there is very cream colored in the smooth areas. The two I have are much darker.

 

[AShearer]

This one had a groove running from under one bolster all the way to the opposite end. The other side was not quite as heavily grooved. But, I kind of liked both sides. Never had one that went under the bolsters in stag. Anyway; I gave this one away to a friend who is not a BF member, but maybe will get him into traditional folders.

 

[AShearer]

Thank you sir, I believe that is correct. Also, from what I understand "sambar stag" is what GEC calls stag (natural) that is not hand matched, not serialized, and on a knife that is too small to run through torching process. "Natural stag" is serialized hand selected for matching width/visual and is not torched. "Burnt stag" is simply non matched sambar stag that is put through torching process....clear as mud???

This is starting to make sense to me. But, I thought Sambar Stag was from a species of deer, as opposed to White Tails for example? I could be wrong, I often am.

 

[Will Power]

Alan That was a very nice gift, if he doesn't get into Traditionals after that he never will!

Sambar is the species of Deer from India whose antlers are the most prized yes. GEC just has its own quirkiness in naming things.

Thanks, Will

 

[AShearer]

Alan That was a very nice gift, if he doesn't get into Traditionals after that he never will!

Sambar is the species of Deer from India whose antlers are the most prized yes. GEC just has its own quirkiness in naming things.

Thanks, Will

Will: Thanks. He's a very good friend. Retired ICE Agent. He likes knives and guns, but not sure he will ever be a collector in the sense we all are. Still, felt good to do something nice for somebody.

So, I was not dreaming. It is a species of Deer, and is where these sheds come from? But, GEC then further makes decisions about calling it natural/Sambar/burnt etc.

Good enough for me!

 

[btb01]

Will, although I ended up letting mine go, I did think that some aspects of the F&F were better on the Clerk than the other #13's I picked up. The pull and snap, in particular, were more satisfying on the Clerk than on the Speaker Jack or Whittler. (Mine, like yours, had a pretty stout pull on the pen, which I attributed to that big fat backspring.)

 

[AShearer]

Will, although I ended up letting mine go, I did think that some aspects of the F&F were better on the Clerk than the other #13's I picked up. The pull and snap, in particular, were more satisfying on the Clerk than on the Speaker Jack or Whittler. (Mine, like yours, had a pretty stout pull on the pen, which I attributed to that big fat backspring.)

To add to this, the F&F on the two whips I got was also very good. Clerk is second, speaker is a close third, but it is a jack end. Not making excuses but it is two blades at the same end. The whittler is kind of difficult. I will sell or GAW the muslin whittler I have. I guess if you're into Whittlers it is probably a good one?

My favorites are the Clerk and the Whip. In that order.

 

[hughtrimble]

With due respect, I believe those would be "natural stag"

These were "Sambar Stag". There are small inferences as to why they were not labeled Natural Stag even though they were not burnt.

I knew that they were called Sambar Stag and not Natural Stag but I did not know why . Some areas of mine appear to be Burnt Stag but not really . I chose the ones that I did because of the brown color looking different than Burnt Stag and assumed , probably in error , that they were some Stag Drops that had aged more than normal . I also assumed that they definitely were not Natural Stag based on the cost . I consider myself fortunate to have gotten 1 that had some pretty nice texture on both the Mark and Pile side and running full length to the bolsters on 3 of the 4 places . If you would have the time to tell me why they were called Sambar Stag and not Natural Stag , I would really appreciate it Mike since I did get the top one from you my friend .

Harry

Thank you sir, I believe that is correct. Also, from what I understand "sambar stag" is what GEC calls stag (natural) that is not hand matched, not serialized, and on a knife that is too small to run through torching process. "Natural stag" is serialized hand selected for matching width/visual and is not torched. "Burnt stag" is simply non matched sambar stag that is put through torching process....clear as mud???

Thank you all for your knowledge in these matters. I assumed from the photo that one was some form of dyed (perhaps amber) stag due to the rather noticeable colouration to it c.f. the other. Very useful to know what their terms actually mean in the GEC stable.